Target Shooting Training Device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a training device for target shooting. The device contains a semi-rigid support having a forward side and a back side and a flexible material stretched over the forward side of the semi-rigid support. The forward side has a first marking and the back side has an affixing means for attaching the semi-rigid support to a shooting target. The flexible material has a second marking such that when the flexible material is penetrated by a projectile, the flexible material tears away from the semi-rigid support exposing the first marking. It is the partial or complete removal of the flexible material that exposes the first marking of the semi-rigid support and alerts the shooter that the training device has been hit. This has the advantage of being able to be seen at a distance away from the training device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to targets used to assist in training an individual on how to aim a weapon when firing a projectile or become more proficient and accurate in placing a projectile in a desired location when using a weapon. More specifically, the invention is a device that may be affixed to an existing target and allows the user to identify when that particular location of the target has been hit by providing a visual signal that can be seen at a distance without the assistance of a visual aid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When learning how to aim and shoot projectile weapons, such as a gun, which includes guns that utilize gun powder or compressed air to launch a projectile or a bow which includes long bows, compound bow, crossbows and the like, an individual often visits a target range, places a paper target at a desired distance and shoots at the target. When a certain number of shots have been fired, the individual views the target by retrieving it with the use of a hand operated or mechanically operated clothes line. Alternatively, the individual may have binoculars or a spotting scope to see the target or utilize a spotter who can provide information after each shot. With the exception of using a spotter which requires a second individual to be present with a visual aid during shooting, an individual can only determine their accuracy after firing several shots, evaluating the target and then shooting another series of rounds repeating the process. It would be preferable if the individual could aim the weapon, shoot and then know instantly whether the target was hit in the desired location without removing their eye from the sight. This would allow the individual to maintain their line of fire for the next series of shots. If this were the case, training times could be decreased, the amount of projectiles fired would be less and the amount of additional equipment and cost associated therewith could be reduced. Consequently, the overall cost of training individuals such as Policemen and Military personnel could be significantly reduced.

There are a number of targets that when contacted with a projectile, explode providing a clear indication that the target was hit. However, while this type of target provides an immediate indication of success, they are also costly to produce and consequently purchase, they increase the amount of noise associated with discharging a weapon, they discharge sparks that could, in dry area like California, have the potential of starting a fire and could be misinterpreted as an attack.

As such, there is a continuing unmet need for a device for use by amateurs and marksmen alike that will provide an immediate indication of whether the desired location on the target has been hit, reduce the cost of equipment and supplies required for target training and reduce the time required for training to reach a desired proficiency.

The forgoing examples of related art and limitation related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and they do not imply any limitations on the invention described and claimed herein. Various limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the specification below and the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a training device for target shooting. The device contains a semi-rigid support having a forward side and a back side and a flexible material stretched over the forward side of the semi-rigid support. The forward side has a first marking and the back side has an affixing means for attaching the semi-rigid support to a shooting target. The flexible material has a second marking such that when the flexible material is penetrated by a projectile, the flexible material tears away from the semi-rigid support exposing the first marking. The first and second markings are identifiably different to the user. It is the partial or complete removal of the flexible material that exposes the first marking of the semi-rigid support and alerts the shooter that the training device has been hit. This has the advantage of being able to be seen at a distance away from the training device.

In one embodiment, the semi-rigid support is made of a soft material that allows passage of a high speed projectile without significant deformation of the support. This semi-rigid support can be made of material such as a polymer or cardboard.

In another embodiment, the flexible material that covers the semi-rigid support is latex.

In yet another embodiment, the first marking is a different color than said second marking. Alternatively, the marking could be the same or different colors and display one or more geometric figures. These distinguishable geometric figures on the flexible material are different than the one or more geometric figures on the semi-rigid support.

In still another embodiment, the affixing means is an adhesive or an adhesive tape.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of training an individual to shoot a weapon. This method comprises the steps of affixing one or more training devices described above to a standard paper target at locations of interest and having the individual shoot at the training devices on the paper target. When the target device is hit by a projectile, the first marking on the semi-rigid support is exposed providing immediate feedback to the individual while simultaneously shooting the weapon.

With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Not applicable

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein have the same meaning as are commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All patents, patent applications and publications referred to throughout the disclosure herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that there is a plurality of definitions for a term herein, those in this section prevail.

The term “target shooting” or “shooting” as used herein refers to the discharging of a weapon wherein a projectile is directed at a target either for pleasure or for training purposes to increase accuracy. Shooting includes the use of weapons that discharge bullets utilizing gun powder or those that utilize compressed gas to discharge BBs or pellets as well as those that discharge arrows such as long bows, compound bows, crossbows and the like.

The term “affixing” as used herein refers to methods known to those skilled in the art for affixing one object to another. In this case, affixing the training device to an existing paper target or other object for target shooting purposes. Such methods would include for example, double sided tape affixed to the back side of the target training device or adhesive applied directly to the back side of the training device with a protective cover that can be removed to expose the adhesive for affixing to a paper target.

The phrase “a distance away” or “a significant distance away” as used herein refers to the distance between the individual discharging the weapon and the target on which the training device is affixed. This distance can range from 15 to 150 feet and can be any specific distance within that range such as 25, 50, 75, 100 or 150 feet and includes longer distances of 50 to 200 yards.

The phrase “flexible material” as used herein refers to a material that can be stretched over the semi-rigid support without easily distorting the support from its generally planar shape and having the ability, when penetrated, to return to its unstretched form exposing the semi-rigid support below. This is similar to what occurs when a balloon that is stretched over a surface is ruptured and the balloon material retracts to its original size exposing the surface beneath. A flexible material for use with the present invention having this quality could be latex.

The present invention is a training device for target shooting. The device comprising a semi-rigid support having a forward side and a back side, wherein the forward side has a first marking and wherein the back side has an affixing means for attaching the semi-rigid support to a shooting target and a flexible material stretched over the semi-rigid support having a second marking such that when the flexible material is penetrated by a projectile the flexible material tears away from the semi-rigid support exposing the first marking wherein the complete or partial removal of the flexible material can be identified at a distance away from the training device.

Support

The semi-rigid support of the training device comprises a forward side, or the side which is presented to the shooter, a back side which contains an affixing means that allows the user to affix the training device to a variety of targets that may be selected by the shooter. In one aspect of the present invention, the training device is made of a semi-rigid material that allows easy passage of a projectile through both the forward and back sides. In this configuration the training device may be made of a material, for example a light weight polymer or cardboard.

The training device could be prepared in a variety of shapes such as a triangle, a square, a circle, an oval, a rectangle or any other shape desired having any of a number of images that may be printed on the forward side's surface of interest to the shooter. These images can be different from those images produced on the flexible material stretched over the semi-rigid support or they may be the same image of differing color or they may be different images of differing color. The purpose for these distinguishing markings or images is to allow the user to identify when the target is hit without removing his/her eye from the weapon site and to adjust their aim and continue shooting.

Flexible Material

The flexible material can be any material known to those skilled in the art that can be stretched over a semi-rigid support, does not substantially deform the semi-rigid support and when torn or ruptured in its stretched form by a projectile, retracts or relaxes to its unstretched form exposing the semi-rigid support below. Such a material could be for example rubber or latex. The flexible material could be provided in a different color that the semi-rigid material over which it is stretched so that when torn or ruptured exposes the different colored semi-rigid material below. The flexible material could have an image on its surface that is not on the semi-rigid support or that is different from the image on the semi-rigid support so that when torn the user sees that the image on the target device disappear or that the markings/images have changed color or design.

Use

In use the shooter removes one or more training devices from their packaging. The target used for training is prepared to accept the training devices of the present invention. The protective coatings are removed from the adhesive strips on the back side of each device and the devices are positioned as desired on the target. The target containing the training devices is then placed at a desired distance from the shooter. When in position the shooter can commence shooting at the training devices. When the target device is hit the flexible membrane tears exposing part or all of the semi rigid support below. Since the pattern and or color of the markings on the semi-rigid support and the flexible material are different, the shooter is able to immediately identify if the target was hit without removing is aim from the line of sight and can adjust that aim and continue shooting.

Consequently, the training device of the present invention provides the shooter with immediate information as to the shot recently taken allowing them to maintain their aim, applying the information obtained from their last shot and adjusting the their aim prior to taking the next shot. This can all be done without the visual assistance of binoculars or a spotter and allows the user to maintain his line of sight readjust his/her aim and firing another shot without relaxing their weapon, or removing their weapon from their aim on the target.

While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A training device for target shooting comprising: a semi-rigid support having a forward side and a back side, wherein said forward side having a first marking and wherein said back side has an affixing means for attaching said semi-rigid support to a shooting target and a flexible material stretched over said semi-rigid support having a second marking such that when said flexible material is penetrated by a projectile said flexible material tears away from said semi-rigid support exposing said first marking wherein the removal of said flexible material having said second marking can be identified a distance away from said training device.
 2. The training device according to claim 1, wherein said housing is made of a soft material that allows passage of a high speed projectile without significant deformation of said housing.
 3. The training device according to claim 2, wherein said soft material is a polymer, a cardboard, a high basis-weight paper.
 4. The training device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible material is latex.
 5. The training device according to claim 1, wherein said first marking is a different color than said second marking.
 6. The training device according to claim 1, wherein said first marking is one or more geometric figures and said one or more geometric figures on said flexible material is different than said one or more geometric figures on said semi-rigid support.
 7. The training device according to claim 1, wherein said affixing means is an adhesive or an adhesive tape.
 8. A method of training an individual to shoot a weapon comprising the steps of: affixing one or more training devices to a standard paper target at locations of interest, wherein said one or more training devices comprises a semi-rigid support having a forward side and a back side, wherein said forward side having a first marking and wherein said back side has an affixing means for attaching said semi-rigid support to a shooting target and a flexible material stretched over said semi-rigid support having a second marking such that when said flexible material is penetrated by a projectile said flexible material tears away from said semi-rigid support exposing said first marking wherein the removal of said flexible material having said second marking can be identified a distance away from said training device; and having said individual shoot at said training devices on said paper target wherein exposing said first marking on said semi-rigid support when said target devices are hit by a projectile, provides feedback to said individual while simultaneously shooting said weapon. 